7810

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7810
• Author: Stempel, M. and R. S. Wydoski.
• Title: Draft Environmental Assessment, Guidelines For Disposition Of Captive-Reared Endangered Fish.
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

Stocking of endangered fishes in the Upper Basin is not considered to be
a substitute for habitat preservation, enhancement, and restoration.
Natural propagation will be given the first priority in the recovery of
the endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The Program's
"Genetics Management Guidelines" identifies criteria to be used in
holding, rearing, or stocking of captive-reared endangered fish.
The stocking of surplus captive-reared endangered fish will only be done
after a stocking plan has been developed and approved by the Recovery
Program participants. Stocking plans will also be reviewed by the
Program's Genetics Panel, consisting of nationally and internationally
recognized fishery geneticists.
Indiscriminate stocking of captive-reared endangered fish cannot be
tolerated because such stocking could adversely affect the genetic
integrity of wild stocks and result in extinction of species or stocks.
Therefore, this alternative was dismissed because the genetic risks to
wild endangered fish stocks would be too great.
4. Implement Disposition Guidelines. Recovery is dependent upon taking a
number of actions to reduce adverse impacts on the endangered fishes.
Recovery Program participants have determined that (1) holding endangered
fish in refugia to prevent extinction of a species or stock from
extinction and (2) propagation of captive-reared endangered fish for
vital research, information and education programs, and stocking are
necessary for the recovery effort. Consequently, the participants
discussed various aspects of propagation to produce only the numbers of
captive-reared endangered fish needed for recovery efforts. Since
attrition rates are uncertain or unknown, conservative measures were
taken to assure that adequate numbers of endangered fish would be
available for the intended purpose. However, this approach to
propagation results in fish that are excess or surplus to Recovery
Program needs.
Recovery Program participants developed "Guidelines for Disposition of
Captive-Reared Endangered Fish" (Appendix A) that is a logical way to
dispose of excess or surplus fish in an appropriate manner. Seven
priority steps will be followed in disposing of surplus captive-reared
endangered fish. The first five steps explore various options to use
surplus fish in a manner that will be beneficial to recovery of the
endangered fishes. Only after these options are fully exhausted will
sacrificing the fish be recommended because of the sensitivity in killing
any animals, particularly endangered species. Obviously, maintaining
captive-reared fish that are not needed in the Colorado River Recovery
Program (Recovery Program) require resources (e.g., space, funds, and
personnel) that should be used to accomplish Recovery Program priorities
related to propagation.
The Preferred Alternative is to "Implement Disposition Guidelines" because the
guidelines are logical and appropriate as applied to endangered fishes. The
guidelines were developed by fishery biologists who are familiar with the
Recovery Program and the Upper Colorado River Basin. These persons used their
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